Quick release buckle



Sept. 19, 1950 M. JOHNSTON 2,522,790

QUICK RELEASE BUCKLE Filed Oct. 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 19, 1950 L. M. JOHNSTON 2,522,790

QUICK RELEASE BUCKLE Filed oct. 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE QUICK RELEASE BUCKLE Lawrence M. Johnston, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application October 9, 1947, Serial No. 778,945

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to a quick release buckle, primarily useful for connecting the shrouds of a parachute to the body harness of the user. It is often essential for the parachutist to free himself from the parachute instantly upon contact with the ground, and regardless of any tension which may exist in the shrouds. The device herein disclosed is so constructed that the user may accomplish such release, regardless of any surrounding conditions.

It is further desirable that means shall be provided positively to prevent release resulting from any shock occurring in theshrouds upon the opening of the parachute; and a further object of the present invention is to provide against accidental release. Further and more particular objects of the invention will appear as the 'description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above andrelated objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammaticfragmental illustration of the location of my quick release buckle, when in use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of a buckle constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof;

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views,

taken substantially upon the line 55 of Fig. 3,

and showing the parts in the positions which they assume just before and just after the opening of a parachute;

Fig. '7 is a fragmental perspective view showing the parts after release;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 9 is an end elevationthereof; Fig. 10 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 5; Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line I l--l l of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view, showing the assembly of Fig. 8 after release; and

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing a different form of blocker means after disengagement thereof.

Referring more particularly to the form of invention illustratedin Figs. 1 to '7, it will be seen that th reference numeral 10 indicates generally 2 a buckleconstructed in accordance with the present invention, and comprising a base member I I to which are connected the harness straps 1 I 2; and a releasable element [3, to which are connected the shroudlines l4. Base member II is formed with a transverse slot litherethrough, and with a second slot IE arranged at an angle to the slot l5 the straps 12 being threaded through said s1otsl5 and IS. The base member is formed with an abutment ll projecting from one face thereof and providing adownwardly facing abutment surface I8 which, as is clearly to be seen in Figs. 5 and 6, is slightly inclined upwardly and outwardly. A socket 39 of substam tial vertical depth is provided beneath the abutment ll.

The releasable element I3 is formed with an abutment 20 projecting from one surface thereof and providing an upwardly facing abutment surface 2! which, as isclearly to be seen, is slightly inclined downwardly and outwardly. The vertical height of the abutment 20 is substantially less than thevertical height of the socket I9 in which said abutment 20 is received when the parts are in assembled relation. It will be readily apparent that, when the parts are assembled; the abutments l1 and 20 will cooperate to prevent relativemovement of the base element H; and the releasable element IS, in one direction; and that the element 13 will be held against re-' lease from the element ll so long as relative horizontal movement of those two elements, as Viewed in Figs. 5 and *6, is prevented. A retaining member 22 is provided for the purpose of preventing such relative horizontal movement. So long as the retaining member 22 is in the position of Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the elements II and 13 will be held against separation; but the moment the retaining member 22 is shifted out of retaining relation with said elements, and a pulling stress is exerted upon said elements I! and I3, the inclination of the surfaces [8 andZI will cause immediatedisengagement of said surfaces, whereby the element 13 will be released fromthe element II.

The retaining member 22, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, may be referred to as a latch, and comprises a pair ofleg-s 23 and 24 joined by a connecting bar, the free ends of said legs being journalled upon trunnions 25 and 26.

jecting through vertically elongated slots 28 and- 29 in the base element H, and the midportion' of said strip being supported upon, and adjustable through, a screw 21, all as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. The upper end of each leg 23 and 24 is formed with a socket 3| engageable with a latch projection 33 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is a continuation of the abutment l1; and said notches 3! are guarded by cam noses 32. As will be clearly apparent from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 7, the retaining member 22 may be snapped into a position in which the projections 33 are engaged in the notches 31, by a simple pressure exerted against the connecting bar. Such pressure will cause the noses 32 to cam the latch downwardly, flexing the strip 30 and moving the trunnion ends 25 and 26 thereof downwardly in the slots 28 and 29, until the noses 32 pass the projections 33, whereupon the spring will snap the retaining member upwardly and will resiliently hold the noses 32 in embracing engagement with the pro jections 33.

Of course, the releasable element I3 is assembled with the base element H before the retaining member 22 is snapped into retaining position. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, a connector head 34 is swivelly secured to the retaining member 22 by means of a screw 35, or the like, said head being firmly secured to one end of a lanyard 36 to the other end of which is preferably secured a ball or knob 31. Upon initial assembly, a frangible shear pin 38 is passed through registering apertures in the cross bar of the retaining member 22, the abutment 20, and the base member II, to hold the releasable element [3 in such a' position that its abutment surface 2| is spaced below the abutment surface [8. Portions of the opposite ends of the retaining member 22 and the base element I I are provided with apertures which register when the projections 33 are engaged in the notches 3|, and frangible shear pins 39 and 40 are passed through those registering apertures.

It is impossible accidentally to disengage the retaining member from its locked position so long as the parts are in the relation illustrated in Fig. 5. When the parachutist jumps and his parachute opens, a violent jerk is exerted upon the releasable elements [3; and that jerk will shear the pins 38, causing the parts to move to the relationship illustrated in Fig. 6. Now, whenever the parachutist desires, he may, by a quick downward jerk upon the lanyards 36, shear the pins 39 and 40 and fiex the strip 30 sufficiently to disengage the notches 3| from the projections 33, thereby swinging the retaining member in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, to or beyond the position illustrated in Fig. 7. The moment the retaining member 22 is moved out of engagement with the releasable element l3, abutments I1 and 20 Will separate, and the parachutist will be freed from his chute.

In Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, I have shown a modified arrangementof the parts. The base element M and releasable element 43 are similar to the corresponding elements in the previously described embodiment. Again, the base element is formed with the slots 45 and 46 and the abutment 41 with its inclined surface 48 for cooperation with the abutment 50 on the releasable element 43, provided with a cooperating inclined surface A retaining member 52, closely similar to the member 22, comprises arms 53 and 54 journalled upon the opposite ends of a resilient strip 60, similarly assembled with the base element 4!; and said retaining member is provided with notches 6| guarded by cam noses 62 for cooperation with latch projections 63 on the base element.

In this embodiment of the invention, the releasable element 43 is formed to provide a socket 64 having lateral walls 65 and 66 which flare from that surface of the releasable element which is engageable by the reaining member toward that surface of such releasable element which, in the assembled condition of the parts, is in substantial abutment with the surface 67 beneath the abutment 41. The upper, downwardly facing wall of said socket 64 is substantially coplanar with the lower edge 68 of the cross bar of the retaining member 52, when the parts are assembled. The releasable element 43 is assembled with the base element M in the manner previously described in the discussion of the embodiment' illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7; and thereafter .a safety blocker member 69 is inserted in the socket 64. Said member 69 may comprise an integral piece of inherently resilient material, such as steel, bent to provide a base 1i] and opposite sides "H and I2 flaring from said base portion, and rebent, as at 13 and 14, to define end portions 15 and 16 which converge to mutual engagement. This arrangement provides a device which is very stifiiy resilient in a direction parallel to the base, and which has substantially noflexibility in the direction of its height. By compressing the portions '13 and 14 toward each other, the blocker member may be introduced into the socket 64 in the position clearly illustrated in Figs. 11 and 10, wherein it will positively block any movement of the retaining member downwardly to disengage the notches 6! from the projections 63. A lanyard TI is connected, at one end, to the blocker member 69, and is anchored at its other end to the harness straps l2. During the jump, the parachutist will hook his thumbs through the lanyards TI. The blocker member 69 will positively prevent disengagement of the retaining member as a result of any shock due to the opening of the chute. Once that shook has been sustained, the parachutist will jerk the lanyards TI to remove the blocker members 69. Thereafter, disengagement of the retaining member can be readily accomplished by downward and forward pressure upon the flange Bl, whereby the strip 60 will be flexed, the notches 6| will be disengaged from the projections 33, and the retaining member will be swung out of retaining engagement with the releasable element 43.

In Fig. 13 I have illustrated a modified form of blocker member. In that form of the invention, the releasable element 43' is formed with a socket 64' whose upper and lower surfaces may fiare toward the surface 67 of the base element. The blocker member, in this form of the invention, is a simple pad 18 of inherently resilient material, suitably fixed to the lanyard H, and slotted, along one edge, to provide furcations 19 and 80. The outer edges of said furcations are chamfered, as shown, to facilitate the entry of the pad 18 into the socket 64'; and the inherent resiliency of the pad 18 will cause said furcations to tend to separate, thus setting up a strong frictional engagement between the pad and the walls of the socket 64. When seated, with the ends of the furcations in contact with the surface 61, the pad projects oppositely from the socket 64' into engagement with the lower edge 68 of the cross bar of the-retaining member 52, thus positively preventing movement of said retaining member in a di-;

area-mo ;,.lections 63. However, as in the previously described embodiment of my invention, the blocker pads are readily removable from the sockets '64 by! a quick jerk upon the lanyards H; whereafter the retainer member 52 may be, at the parachutists will, swung, out of cooperative relation with the releasable element 43, whereupon the ment hingedly associated with said base element and swingable into and out of retaining relation with said releasable element and acting, when in such retaining relation, to prevent relative movementof said abutments out of cooperative relation, frangible means engaging said three elements and positively holding said retaining element in such retaining relation and said abutments out of engagement, and manually-operable means actuable, after rupture of said frangible means, to shift said retaining element out of retaining relation with said releasable element.

2. A quick-release buckle comprising a base element formed to provide an abutment, a releasable element formed to provide'an abutment cooperable with said first-named abutment to prevent separation of said elements, a retaining element hingedly associated with'said base ele-- ment through a movable-axis hinge and swingable into and out of retaining relation with said releasable element and acting, when in such retaining relation, to prevent relative movement of said abutments out of cooperative relation, latch means on said base element and said retaining element and acting, when in cooperative relation, to hold said retaining element in retaining relation with said releasable element, said hinge axis being movable relative to said latch means on said base element to shift said latch means on said retaining element into and out of cooperative relation with said latch means on said base element, frangible means acting to hold said hinge axis in position for cooperation of said latch means, and manually-manipulable means for rupturing said frangible means and shifting said hinge axis to render said latch means ineffective to hold said retaining element.

3. A quick-release buckle comprising a base element formed to provide an abutment, a releasable element formed to provide an abutment cooperable with said first-named abutment to prevent separation of said elements, a retaining element hingedly associated with said base element through a movable-axis hinge and swingable into and out of retaining relation with said releasable element and acting, when in such retaining relation, to prevent relative movement of said abutments out of cooperative relation, latch means on said base element and said retaining element and acting, when in cooperative relation, to hold said retaining element in retaining relation with said releasable element, said hinge axis being movable relative to said latch means on said base element to shift said latch means on said retaining element into and out of cooperative relation with said latch means on said base element, means resiliently holding said hinge axis in position for cooperation of said latch means, and manually-manipulable means for overcoming said last-named means and shifting said hinge axis to render said. latch means ineffective to hold said retaining element.

l. A quick-release buckle comprising a substantially vertically disposed base element provided with an abutment projecting from one face thereof and having a downwardly-presented abutment surface slightly inclined outwardly and upwardly, a releasable element substantially verticallydisposed and provided with an abutment projecting from one face thereof and having an upwardlyrpresented abutment surface cooperable with said first-named surface and slightly inclined outwardly and downwardly, said one face of said base element having a recess below its abutment and the abutment on the releasable element being received in said recess to locate its upwardly-presented abutment surface in cooperative relation with the downwardly-presented surface of said first-named abutment, said recess having a vertical dimension substantially greater than the vertical dimension of the abutment receivable therein, means carried by one of said elements and cooperable with the other of said elements to retain said elements against relative movement in the direction of projection of said abutments, frangible means engaging both or" said elements and said last-named means and acting. to hold said abutments vertically separated and to hold said last-named means in retaining relation with said elements, and manually-manipulable means operable after rupture of said frangible means, to shift said retaining means out of such retaining relation.

5. A quick-release buckle comprising a substantially vertically disposed base element provided with an abutment projecting from one face thereof and having a downwardly-presented abutment surface slightly inclined outwardly and upwardly, a releasable element substantially vertically disposed and provided with an abutment projecting from one face thereof and having an upwardlypresented abutment surface cooperable with said first-named surface and slightly inclined outwardly and downwardly, said one face of said base element having a recess below its abutment and the abutment on the releasable element being received in said recess to locate its upwardlypresented abutment surface in cooperative relation with the downwardly-presented surface of said first-named abutment, said recess having a vertical dimension substantially greater than the vertical dimension of the abutment receivable therein, means carried by one of said elements and cooperable with the other of said elements to retain said elements against relative movement in the direction of projection of said abutments, said two elements and said retaining means being respectively formed with perforations therethrough registering when said abutment on said releasable element is received in said recess with its abutment face vertically spaced from said first-named abutment face and said retaining means is in retaining relation with said elements, a shear pin mounted in said registering perforations to hold said elements and said means with their perforations in registry, and manually-manipulable means, operable after rupture of said shear pin to shift said retaining means out of retaining relation.

6. A quick-release buckle comprising a base element formed to provide an abutment, a releasable element formed to provide an abutment engageable with said first-named abutment to block relative movement of said elements in one direction, a retaining element cooperable with sa'id base element and said releasable element to hold said abutments in engagement, latch means for holding said retaining element in cooperative relation with said base element and said releasable element, resilient means for holding said latch means against disengagement, and removable blocker means normally preventing disengagement of said latch means, said blocker means comprising a member engaged between said releasable element and said retaining element and :positively preventing relative movement therebetween.

'7. The buckle of claim 6 in which said blocker :member is inherently resiliently expansible and is contracted against its inherent resiliency when engaged between said elements.

8. The buckle of claim '7 in which said blocker member is a spring-=metal strip shaped to provide a base, two diverging sides, and end portions converging to mutual engagement from the portions of said sides remote from said base.

9. The buckle of claim 8 in which said blocker member is received in a socket formed in said releasable element, said socket having lateral walls engaged by said blocker member sides and said lateral walls diverging toward a contiguous surface of said base element, and in which said remote portions of said blocker member sides substantially abut said base element surface when said blocker member is in blOCkiIlg position.

10. A quick-release buckle comprising a base element formed to provide an abutment, a releasable element formed to provide an abutment engageable with said first-named abutment to block relative movement of said elements in one direction, a retaining element cooperable with said base element and said releasable element to hold said abutments in engagement, latch means for holding said retaining element in cooperative relation with said base element and said releasable element, resilient means for holding said latch means against disengagement, and removable blocker means normally preventing disengagement of said latch means, said blocker means comprising a pad of inherently-resilient material provided, at one edge, with inherently-resilient,

'8 separated furcatibns, and in which said pad is receivable in a slot formed in said releasable element with its furcations flexed toward each other against their inherent resiliency and in substantial abutment with a contiguous surface of said base element, andin which said pad projects from said slot away from said base element into blocking relation to said latch means.

11. A quick-release buckle comprising a base element formed to provide an abutment, a releasable element formed to provide an abutment engageable with said first-named abutment to block relative movement of said elements in one direction, a retaining member hinged to one of said elements and provided with a notch engageable,

at times, with a latch projection on said one element, said retaining member being positioned, when its notch is so engaged, to prevent abutment-disengaging relative movement of said elements, and resilient means resisting disengagement ofsaid notch irom' said projection.

12. A quick-release buckle comprising a base element formed to provide an abutment, a releasable element formed to provide an abutment engageable with said first-named abutment to block relative movement of said elements in one REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent: v

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Johnston July 30, 194 6 Number 

